Minnesota Health Care Freedom Act (2010)

From Ballotpedia

Not on Ballot
This measure did not or will not appear on a ballot

The Minnesota Health Care Freedom Act did not appear on the 2010 statewide ballot in the state of Minnesota as a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment. As of May 17, 2010, the end of the legislative session, lawmakers had failed to approve the proposed measure for the ballot.^[1]

The proposed Health Care Freedom Act was a proposal under consideration by some members of the Minnesota State Legislature to place a measure before voters similar to the Arizona Health Insurance Reform Amendment (2010).^[2] According to reports, the proposed constitutional amendments would have stopped federal intervention on health care choices.

Backers of such amendments were opposed to President Barack Obama’s new health care plans. The measure did not advocate a particular plan but measure advocates said the measure would "protect the individual’s right to make health care decisions." Opponents of the measures and some constitutional scholars said the proposals were mostly symbolic, intended to send a message of political protest, and had little chance of succeeding in court over the long run.^[3]

Path to the ballot

See also: Minnesota legislatively-referred constitutional amendments

Proposed amendments required agreement by a majority of the members of each chamber of the Minnesota State Legislature. However, by the end of the legislative session on May 17, 2010 the measure failed to garner sufficient approval to qualify for the 2010 ballot.^[1]

Similar measures in other states

Groups in Indiana, New Mexico, North Dakota and Wyoming are considering a similar proposal. Two of these states (North Dakota and Wyoming) allow ballot initiatives; in the other three states, the state legislature would have to vote it onto the ballot using their state's procedure for constitutional amendments.^[2]

See also

• 2010 ballot measures
• Minnesota 2010 ballot measures

Articles

• Health care issue being fought by ballot measures

Additional reading

• Minnesota Public Radio,"What didn't happen in the 2010 legislative session," May 17, 2010
• World Magazine,"2010 Preview: Ballot initiatives are a way for citizens to settle an issue directly without state legislatures," January 16, 2010
• Los Angeles Times,"One nation, insured," November 16, 2009

References

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